Jewish Telegraphic Agencyhttp://www.jta.org
The Global Jewish News SourceFri, 09 Dec 2016 13:15:45 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1At NYU, dialogue or denial?http://www.jta.org/2007/02/11/news-opinion/politics/at-nyu-dialogue-or-denial
http://www.jta.org/2007/02/11/news-opinion/politics/at-nyu-dialogue-or-denial#respondSun, 11 Feb 2007 15:00:01 +0000http://jta-live.alley.ws/2007/02/11/default/at-nyu-dialogue-or-denialScreenings of a documentary on radical Islam brought New York University Muslim and Jewish students together  to bash the portrayal of Muslim extremism. The filmmakers say the students are in deep denial.]]>

A scene from the documentary film ‘Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West.’ ()

NEW YORK, Feb. 8 (JTA)  Screenings of a documentary on radical Islam have brought New York University Muslim and Jewish students together  to bash the portrayal of Muslim extremism. A representative of the filmmakers say the students are in deep denial.”Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West,” by Wayne Kopping and Raphael Shore, features interviews with prominent anti-terror advocates like Daniel Pipes and Walid Shoebat. They’re interspersed with clips from various Arabic broadcasts in which Muslim clerics call for the destruction of America, and children’s programming where youths declare their ambition to be warriors for Islam. The movie has been screened at dozens of colleges in recent months with assistance from Hasbara Fellowships, a division of the fervently Orthodox outreach group Aish International, which provides media training on Israel issues to college students. Controversy over the film at Pace University and Brown University made headlines in recent weeks. At Pace, Hillel President Michael Abdurakhmanov claimed that administrators used threats to keep his group from screening the film. A Pace spokesman called that “implausible,” while acknowledging that Pace did want to avoid screening the film after copies of the Koran were found in toilets at the school.At Brown, the Muslim Student Association protested when Hillel invited one of the film’s interview subjects, Nonie Darwish, to speak on campus. Her appearance was canceled, then rescheduled without Hillel sponsorship. At NYU, the screening of “Obsession” was co-sponsored by Muslim and Arab student groups and the interfaith Middle East Sustained Dialogue Group. That co-sponsorship is “really a testament to our strength as a community,” said sophomore Jordan Dunn, president of the dialogue group.If so, that “strength” comes from the fact that NYU Jewish students take a different approach to engagement with Muslim groups than at other universities, where Jewish groups often condemn Muslim extremism and become upset when the Muslim groups don’t do so as well. At NYU, the confrontational approach is seen as unproductive.Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, manager of religious life at NYU’s Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life, told CampusJ that Muslim-Jewish relations at the school are particularly good because of the presence of Khalid Latif, the school’s Muslim chaplain. Latif, 24, who also is a chaplain at Princeton University, has developed a reputation as an engaging, moderate spiritual leader.The NYU Jewish community’s philosophy is to “always participate” in dialogue, Sarna said, noting that events that might cause controversy at some campuses  such as a lecture by former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last semester  have been transformed into opportunities for dialogue.But Muslim students at NYU weren’t too happy with the film.In a discussion afterward, Muslim students objected to the film’s claim that radical Islam is a source of hatred and terrorism, calling the documentary an affront to all Muslims  even though it repeatedly states that the extremists it portrays are a small minority. “The scary aspect of the NYU audience was the seeming inability to criticize any of the horrific Islamist actions and behavior in general, as shown in ‘Obsession,’ ” said Robert Friedman, a volunteer sent by the filmmakers to speak at the screening.In an e-mail interview, Friedman told CampusJ that dialogue participants at NYU were in “denial” about Muslim extremism, and that this produced a double standard in which ” ‘dialogue’ in this group meant Jews and Israelis with mea culpas and the Muslims and/or Arabs critiquing Israel and the West.” Friedman asserted that “Jews in particular are the most introspective, self-critical group on earth,” but Jewish self-criticism was not matched by similar introspection from Muslim students  something he said surprised him. However, at least for Jewish leaders of the dialogue, concerns about Jewish extremists are likewise off-the- table. Responding to Friedman, Dunn told CampusJ, “I say, why dwell on the negative? Why not invest our time and energy in coexistence?” Nathan Yadgar, a Hasbara Fellowships representative at the screening, wasn’t concerned by Muslim students’ non-critical attitude toward the extremism in the film.”There are many reasons for the denial, and one of the main reasons I believe is fear,” he told CampusJ. “As long as you can get a dialogue started, that’s a solution.” While no Muslim students criticized the actions portrayed in the film during the open dialogue, “After the dialogue, two or three students came up to me and said it’s a problem,” he said. “But Muslims in America are afraid to speak up.” This story was reported by Jill Goldstein and Steven I. Weiss.

]]>http://www.jta.org/2007/02/11/news-opinion/politics/at-nyu-dialogue-or-denial/feed0Right-wing crimes up in Germanyhttp://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/right-wing-crimes-up-in-germany
http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/right-wing-crimes-up-in-germany#respondThu, 08 Feb 2007 15:00:01 +0000http://jta-live.alley.ws/2007/02/08/default/right-wing-crimes-up-in-germanyCrimes related to right-wing extremism and xenophobia in Germany appear to have risen to their highest levels in six years.]]>Crimes related to right-wing extremism and xenophobia in Germany appear to have risen to their highest levels in six years. Preliminary figures for 2006 showed 12,238 crimes related to the right wing, according to the Internet edition of the Die Zeit weekly. Those figures are expected to rise by the time the final report is ready in May. Last year, the preliminary total of 10,271 rose to nearly 16,000 when the report was completed. Of those, 958 were violent crimes. The Interior Ministry said it expects this year’s total to be higher. So far, the 2006 figures show 726 violent crimes and 8,738 crimes related to propaganda, which in Germany includes acts such as the display of swastikas and Nazi slogans or songs, as well as Holocaust denial.
]]>http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/right-wing-crimes-up-in-germany/feed0Ontario shifts elections for Orthodoxhttp://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/ontario-shifts-elections-for-orthodox
http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/ontario-shifts-elections-for-orthodox#respondThu, 08 Feb 2007 15:00:01 +0000http://jta-live.alley.ws/2007/02/08/default/ontario-shifts-elections-for-orthodoxThe Canadian Jewish Congress praised the Ontario government for shifting an upcoming provincial election so that it doesn’t fall on a Jewish holiday.]]>The Canadian Jewish Congress praised the Ontario government for shifting an upcoming provincial election so that it doesn’t fall on a Jewish holiday. The government switched the election from Oct. 4 to Oct. 10 after learning that Oct. 4 was Shemini Atzeret. The province’s Election Act allows for a scheduled voting day to be shifted if necessary, CJC Ontario Chairman Joel Richler said. “The legislation has worked precisely as it was intended,” he said. “We asked the government of Ontario to reflect upon the diversity of the Ontario electorate and to make use of the options provided by the Election Act. It is to their credit that they have done so.” Marie Bountrogianni, provincial minister of intergovernmental affairs, agreed. “Our fixed election date framework was designed with the flexibility to accommodate our cultural and religious diversity,” she said.
]]>http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/ontario-shifts-elections-for-orthodox/feed0Researchers probe Jewish sexual behaviorhttp://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/researchers-probe-jewish-sexual-behavior
http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/researchers-probe-jewish-sexual-behavior#respondThu, 08 Feb 2007 15:00:01 +0000http://jta-live.alley.ws/2007/02/08/default/researchers-probe-jewish-sexual-behaviorA new survey is under way to gauge Jewish adherence to family purity laws that require couples to abstain from sex for roughly two weeks a month.]]>A new survey is under way to gauge Jewish adherence to family purity laws that require couples to abstain from sex for roughly two weeks a month. The survey, separate versions of which are available for those who are married and single, asks about religious practice as well as sexual behavior, and can be completed anonymously at www.jewishsurveys.org. Mark Guterman, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey who is working on the study, conducted prior research revealing that modern Orthodox Jews were not observing family purity laws as extensively as was assumed. The new study could lead to “reinforcement or readdressing” of existing sexual standards in the Jewish community, Guterman said.
]]>http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/researchers-probe-jewish-sexual-behavior/feed0Israel, U.S. to cooperate against terrorismhttp://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/israel-u-s-to-cooperate-against-terrorism
http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/israel-u-s-to-cooperate-against-terrorism#respondThu, 08 Feb 2007 15:00:01 +0000http://jta-live.alley.ws/2007/02/08/default/israel-u-s-to-cooperate-against-terrorismThe United States and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding enhancing their partnership to fight world terrorism.]]>The United States and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding enhancing their partnership to fight world terrorism. The Memorandum of Mutual Understanding signed Wednesday by U.S. Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter promised collaboration on flight security, emergency planning, damage control and explosives detection research. The two countries also will hold joint staff training and sponsor exchanges in an attempt to reduce terrorist activity. A steering committee will be established to keep the initiative on track. Dichter has described the partnership as “a breakthrough,” according to The Jerusalem Post. Also Wednesday, U.S. Reps. Peter King (R-N.Y.) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) reintroduced legislation that would facilitate homeland security collaboration among the United States, Israel and other allies. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives last year but failed to get a Senate hearing.
]]>http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/israel-u-s-to-cooperate-against-terrorism/feed0Lantos proposes nuclear fuel bankhttp://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/lantos-proposes-nuclear-fuel-bank
http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/lantos-proposes-nuclear-fuel-bank#respondThu, 08 Feb 2007 15:00:01 +0000http://jta-live.alley.ws/2007/02/08/default/lantos-proposes-nuclear-fuel-bankU.S. Rep. Tom Lantos introduced legislation to create a nuclear fuel enrichment bank, offering Iran a way out of its nuclear impasse.]]>U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos introduced legislation to create a nuclear fuel enrichment bank, offering Iran a way out of its nuclear impasse. “If Iran’s nuclear program is truly peaceful, Tehran should welcome an opportunity to ensure a stable supply of nuclear fuel from an internationally-supported nuclear fuel bank located in a safe nation,” Lantos (D-Calif.), chairman of the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement Wednesday. “If Iran is instead building a nuclear weapon, its nefarious intentions will be quickly exposed should it refuse to participate in this important project.” Lantos, who is Jewish and a Holocaust survivor, is close to Israel and the pro-Israel community in Washington. His proposal is notable because Israel expressed wariness last year about a similar proposal from Russia.
]]>http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/lantos-proposes-nuclear-fuel-bank/feed0Ackerman backs Iran outreachhttp://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/ackerman-backs-iran-outreach
http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/ackerman-backs-iran-outreach#respondThu, 08 Feb 2007 15:00:01 +0000http://jta-live.alley.ws/2007/02/08/default/ackerman-backs-iran-outreachA senior Jewish U.S. congressman slammed the Bush administration for refusing to engage with Iran.]]>A senior Jewish U.S. congressman slammed the Bush administration for refusing to engage with Iran. “The Bush administration remains stuck behind the idea that diplomacy is equivalent to appeasement and that negotiation is akin to surrender,” Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) said in hearings last week. “Consequently, with regard to Iran, we seem determined to achieve the worst of all policy outcomes.” Ackerman is considered close to elements of the pro-Israel community that back isolating Iran as long as it rejects nuclear transparency. He said the recent confrontational posture the United States is taking toward Iran in Iraq is dangerous unless there’s a diplomatic fallback. “Without question, face-to-face dialogue with the Iranians would be difficult, unpleasant and likely to fail,” he said. “However, if there are no talks, a negotiated resolution of either the Iranian nuclear problem or the instability and violence in Iraq is essentially impossible.”
]]>http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/ackerman-backs-iran-outreach/feed0Dialogue groups to lobbyhttp://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/dialogue-groups-to-lobby
http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/dialogue-groups-to-lobby#respondThu, 08 Feb 2007 15:00:01 +0000http://jta-live.alley.ws/2007/02/08/default/dialogue-groups-to-lobbyAn alliance of Palestinian-Israeli dialogue groups will lobby Congress for funding.]]>An alliance of Palestinian-Israeli dialogue groups will lobby Congress for funding. The Alliance for Middle East Peace will host a conference for its 36 member groups March 13-15 in Washington, on the heels of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy forum. The representatives will train in writing applications for grants from private foundations and government. They will spend March 15 on Capitol Hill lobbying for greater U.S. funding of Arab-Jewish encounters.
]]>http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/dialogue-groups-to-lobby/feed0U.S. fire chiefs to Israelhttp://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/u-s-fire-chiefs-to-israel
http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/u-s-fire-chiefs-to-israel#respondThu, 08 Feb 2007 15:00:01 +0000http://jta-live.alley.ws/2007/02/08/default/u-s-fire-chiefs-to-israelFourteen American fire chiefs went to Israel to learn about responding to terrorist attacks.]]>Fourteen American fire chiefs went to Israel to learn about responding to terrorist attacks. AIPAC’s American Israel Education Foundation partnered with the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the trip. Israeli representatives from the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Fire Brigades, Israel Police, Magen David Adom and other organizations provided demonstrations. “Israel has been preparing for and responding to terror attacks for 50 years,” AIPAC board member Harriet Zimmerman said. “Our goal is to ensure that U.S. first responders have the opportunity to learn from Israel’s vast experience and bring home those important lessons to help save American lives.” Other highlights included tours of Hadassah Hospital’s trauma unit, the Haifa Fire Department and northern areas that were most devastated by last summer’s war with Hezbollah. The firefighters came from major U.S. cities including New York City, Atlanta, Baltimore, Miami and Las Vegas.
]]>http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/u-s-fire-chiefs-to-israel/feed0Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit opens in Missourihttp://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/dead-sea-scrolls-exhibit-opens-in-missouri
http://www.jta.org/2007/02/08/news-opinion/dead-sea-scrolls-exhibit-opens-in-missouri#respondThu, 08 Feb 2007 15:00:01 +0000http://jta-live.alley.ws/2007/02/08/default/dead-sea-scrolls-exhibit-opens-in-missouriNearly 200,000 people are expected to attend an exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Kansas City, Mo.]]>Nearly 200,000 people are expected to attend an exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle reported that the display, opening Thursday, will run through May 13. The Kansas City Museum at Union Station cooperated with the Israel Antiquities Authority on the exhibit.
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